Run-repair needle



Sept. 10, 1929. H. HAVESON 1,727,769

RUN REPAIR NEEDLE Filed May 29, 1926 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

T'FE S HERMAN HAVESON, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TQ FINCHI CORPORATION, A CORPORATIGN OF DELAWARE.

RUN-REPAIR NEEDLE.

Application filed May 29, 1926. Serial No. 112,606.

My invention has for its primary object the repairing of so called runsin hosiery by means of a sliding latch needle, as distinguished from theuse of a pivoted latch needle for the same purpose.

While my needle comes under the general class of sliding latch needles,yet it is not the ordinary sliding latch needle, but a special speciesof that general class, the special species being my invention.

Another object of m invention is to provide means upon the s rank of theneedle to positively retain the last formed loop while the sliding latchis being moved forward,

I relatively to the shank, to engage yarn to form a subsequent loop.

Another object of this invention is to provide means on the latch whichwill co-act with the positive loop retaining means upon the shank torelease the said retained loop from the said positive retaining meanswhen the latch has engaged yarn to form a subsequent loop.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the latch isyieldingly held in its forward position, that is, in contact with thepoint of the needle hook.

I have disclosed a single embodiment of my invention herein as isillustrated by the following figures wherein like reference char:

acters refer to like parts:

Fig. 1 is a section along a sinker wale of a stocking adjacent to theneedle wale wherein a run has occurred and wherein a needle, in

accordance with my invention, is shown in side view.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1, showing successive steps inthe repairing operation.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sliding latch needle illustrating myinvention, the extension of the shank thereof being broken off and shownin section.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken through the piece 18 and showing theparts in position of Fig. 4.

Considering Fig. 4, 1 represents the shank portion of a certainsectional shape, herein best, though not necessarily, shown as having arectangular cross-section. A longitudinal groove 2 extends the length ofshank 1 up to the hook portion 4, which has the usual shape and whichhas the slight hollow or circular depression 5 therein at the point ofhook 1. Just below the hook *1, the needle is slightly widened as at 6to form a bulge or shoulder 7 at right angles to the body shank 1. Thejuncture of 7 and the body 1 is rounded as at 8. The previouslymentioned groove 2 extends through the shoulder 6, cleaving the saidshoulder into two upstanding portions.

Sliding in the groove 2 is the latch 9 having the point 10 and theabutment 12. Point 10 is adapted when moved forward to engage and alinewith the hollow 5 of the hook t. The point 10 tapers up from its end tothe main body of shank 9 gradually, reaching the full body height at 11.The distance between 10 and 11 is such that when 10 registers withhollow 5 the full height 11 will be in position alongside the shoulder 7so that a continuous unbroken surface will be formed as is seen in Fig.8. The under side of the point of latch 9 is not shaped at all, as isseen at 20, it forms a single plane with the bottom of latch 9 andslides in the groove 2. The gradual sloping from 1.0 to 11 is such thatwhen 9 is in the retracted position of Fig. 1, or even part wayadvanced, it will leave between itself and the shoulder 7 a notch,within which the yarn 21 is caught as in Fig. 1. The notch is stillpartly formed and plainly seen in Fig. 4. Formed integrally therewiththrough the shank 9 is a pin 16, the function of which will be presentlydescribed.

The operating means is at the rear of the needle and consists of a Ushaped piece 18 having the side walls 13 and 1 1 and the central slot15. It is shown inverted in Fig. 4. Formed in each side wall 13 and 14are slots 1.7 sloping as shown, the top of the slot 17 nearest the openend of the U shaped piece 18 being closest to the needle hook end. Twowedge shaped portions 22 and 23 are thus formed in the side piece 13,two similar wedge shaped portions (not shown) are formed in the othershoulder 14. The pin 16 of the shank 9 extends through both the slotsthus formed in pieces 13 and 1 1.

The shank 1 has vertical grooves cut' in each side as at 3, forming astructure within which the piece 18 slides vertically upon proper forcebeing applied to it.

Also the slot 15 in the piece 18 allows the latch 9 to slide freely inits own longitudinal movement in the shank 1.

Thus it is seen that when one applies force to the top of 18 that thewedge shaped piece 23 will, with 18, slide vertically downward relativeto shank 1 and will force the latch 9 through the intermediary of thepin 16 to slide in the groove 2 rearwardly relative to the shank 1 andat right angles relative to the .piece 18. The length of the slot 17 issuch that the point 10 will be withdrawn and stopped between orintermediate the portions 6.

Upon the force being removed a spring 19 fastened to the underside ofshank 1 will force the piece 18 upwardly and cause the wedge shapedpiece 22 to force the latch forward until the point 10 rents within thehollow 5. The operation is similar to that performed in moving the latchrearwardly and need not be again described. lVhcn the point 10 rests inthe hollow 5 the top of the slope at 11 forms an unbroken plane with thetop of the portion 6.

It is of course understood that the means shown for actuating the latchis only one type of means that may be used for this purpose. As isevident, any means which will impart a movement to the latch, in thedirection of its length and relative to the shank, maybe used to actuatethe said latch. WVith such use, the latch movements must be properlytimed and this is so regardless of the particular type of actuatingmeans employed.

zh'ethod of use.

The last loop 21 of Fig. 1 is impaled upon shank 1 and beneath shoulder7 being held there by said shoulder, since the latch is withdrawnleaving the open notch. The. latch is now allowed to move forward, atthe same time being pointed to the left of the yarn 24, while at thesame time shoulder 7 v still holds loop 21. lVhen point, 10 isdefinitely around yarn 24, the latch 9 is allowed to move forward(action of spring 19) and yarn 24 is caught inside the hook at whenpoint 10 registers with hollow a. At the same time the forward action oflatch 9 has brought the fuli height 11 of said latch beneath the loop ofyarn 21, thus supporting 21 on top of the portion 6, and since thisforms a single unbroken plane the loop 21 may slide forward down theslope between 11 and 10 and over the shoulder 7 and thus by moving theneedle downward the loop of yarn 24 will be drawn through the old loop21.

The needle is shown as being tilted to get the point of the latch to theleft of the next yarn 24, the fabric being shown as stationary. Relativemotion is all that is required,

This operation is repeated forming a new loop of each yarn in eachcourse until the entire run has been repaired.

The dangers of the pivoted latch needle are thus avoided, that is, the01d loop is positively caught and there is no chance for faulty repairwork with average skill attendant upon the operator.

The shank 1, shown broken off at 26 is adapted to have a handle securedthereto for the convenience of operation.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention only, I wish it to beunderstood that I am not limited to this embodiment in the method ofrepairing runs but may use any modification of a sliding latch needlewhich will present the essential features as claimed in the followingappended claims.

In normal repairing the run fabric is spread or stretched over anysuitableholder or framework to facilitate repairing.

It is within the scope of my invention to use needles of differentdiameters, that is, being of varying cross-sectional areas, so as toprovide means of repairing runs according to the length of the originalstitch. To clarify, if the original stitch were small, I would use afine gauge needle sufliciently fine to draw stitches of the same lengthas the original. 'With different length stitches, I would use a needleguageof the corresponding diameter.

What I claim and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent is 1. Themethod of using a sliding latch needle comprising a shank and a slidinglatch thereon, in run repairing, which consists in retaining the lastformed loop of the said run on the shank while the yarn of thenextcourse of the run is being enclosed by the sliding latch and in thenutilizing the latch to release the retained loop when the latch hasenclosed the yarn.

2. The method of using a sliding latch needle, comprising a shank and alatch sliding thereon, in run repairing 'which consists in positivelyretaining the last formed loop of the run on the shank while the yarn ofthe next course of the run is being enclosed by the sliding latch andinthen utilizing the latch to release the positively retained loop whenthe latch has enclosed the am. y 3. A sliding latch needle comprising ashank and hook portion and a latch portion in sliding relation to theshank portion to-' ward and away from the hook to co-act with the samein open and closed relation; and having means to repair runs in knit-tedfabrics, including means for drawing a length of yarn forming part ofthe run into loop formation and drawing the same through a previouslyformed loop, and means on the latch portion for casting oil thepreviously formed loop over the newly drawn loop.

4.1K sliding latch needle comprising a shank and hook portion and alatch portion in sliding relation to the shank toward and away from thehook to co-act with the same in open and closed relation; and hav ngmeans to repair runs in knitted fabrics, 1ncluding means for drawing alength of yarn forming part of the run into loop formation and drawingthe same through a previously formed loop retained on the needle andmeans on the latch portion for casting off the previously formed loopover the newly drawn loop.

5. A sliding latch needle comprising, a shank and hook portion and alatch portion in sliding relation to the shank portion toward and awayfrom. the hook to co-act with the same in open and closed relation; and

having means to repair runs in knitted fabrics including means to retaina loop during the time that a length of yarn forming part of the run isbeing drawn into loop formation, prior to drawing the same through theretained loop and prior to casting ed the retained loop over the newlydrawn loop.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to retain theloop is means positively retaining the loop prior to drawing the newloop and casting off the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

7. A sliding latch needle comprising a shank and hook portion and. alatch portion in sliding relation to the shank toward and away from thehook to co-act with the same in open and closed relation and havingmeans to repair runs in knitted fabrics including means to retain a loopduring the time that a length of yarn forming part of the run is beingdrawn into loop formation and means to release the said retained loop asthe newly drawn loop is being drawn through the retained loop tocast-ofi' the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

8. The combination claimed in claim 7 wherein the means toretain a loopis means positively retaining the loop prior to drawing the new loop andcasting off the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

9. 'The combination of claim 5 the means retaining the loop comprisesmeans on the shank of the needle.

10.- The combination of claim 7 wherein the means retaining the loopcomprises means on the shankand the means for releasing the retainedloopcomprises means on the latch co-acting with the means on the I shank.

11. The combination of claim 5 wherein the means for retaining theloop'comprises a shoulder cut in the shank at a point adjacent the hookmember.

12. The combination of claim 7'wherein the means for retaining the loopcomprises ashoulder on the shank formed adjacent the hook member and themeans for releasing the loop comprises a sloping shape to the latchmember to co-act with the shoulder means. i

13. A sliding latch needle for run repairing comprising a shank and hookportion and a latch portion in sliding relation to the shank portiontoward and away from the hook to co-actwith the same in open and closedrelation, and means to retain a loop on the needle back of the hook atpredetermined times with restricted longitudinal movement relative to atleast one of said portions.

14. A sliding latch needle for run repairing comprising a shank and hookportion and a latch portion in sliding relation to the shank portiontoward and away from the hook to co-act with the same in open and closedrelation, and means including one of said portions to retain a. loopback of the hook at predetermined times with restricted longitudinalmovement relative to said portion.

15. A. sliding latch needle for run repairing comprising a shank andhook portion and a latch portion in sliding relation to the shankportion toward and away from the hook to co-act with the same in openand closed relation, and means including the wherein latch to retain aloop back of the hook at predetermined times with restrictedlongitudinal movement relative to said portion. v

16. A needle for repairing runs or ravels in fabrics having a shankmember terminating in a hook portion and a sliding .latch member, saidshank member sloping upwarddownwardly to form a substantially verticalshoulder.

18. A needle for repairing runs or ravels in fabrics having a shankmember terminating in a hook portion and a sliding latch member, saidshank member having an abrupt shoulder and said latch member having aninclined upper surface co-act-ing with said shoulder in open and closedpositions of the latch member.

19. A sliding latch needle comprising a shank and hook portion and alatch member in sliding relation to the shank portion to ward and awayfrom the hookto co-act with the same in open and closed positions, andhaving means to repair runs in knitted fabrics, said means including ashoulder adapted to retain a loop during the time that a length of yarnforming part of the run is being drawn to loop formation, prior todrawing the samethrough the retained loop and prior to casting ofi theretained loop over the newly drawn loop.

20. A sliding latch needle comprising a shank and hook portion and alatch member in sliding relation to the shank portion toward and awayfrom the hook to co-act with the same in open and closed positions, andhaving means to repair runs in knitted fabrics including meanscomprising a shoulder to positively retain a loop during the time that alength of yarn forming part of the run is being drawn to loop formation,prior to casting oli' the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

21. A sliding latch needle comprising a shank and hook portion and alatch member in. sliding relation to the shank portion to-' ward andaway from the hook to co-act with the same in open and closed positions,and having means to repair runs in knitted fabrics including -meanscomprising an abrupt shoulder upon said shank portion to retain a loopduring the time that a length of yarn forming part of the run is beingdrawn to loop formation, and means upon the latch member co-acting withthe abrupt shoulder upon said shank portion to release the said retainedloop as the newly drawn loop is being drawn through the retained loop tocast off the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

22.'A sliding latch needle comprising a shank andhook portion and alatchmember in sliding relation to the shank portion toward and awayfrom the hook to co-act with the same in open and closed positions, andhaving means to repair runs in knitted fabrics including meanscomprising a shoulder upon said shank portion to positively retain aloop during the time that a length of yarn forming part of the run isbeing drawn to loop formation, and means upon the latch member co-actingwith the shoulder upon said shank portion to release the said re tainedloop as the newly drawn loop is being drawn through the retained loop tocast ofi the retained loop over the newly drawn loop.

23. The method of repairing runs or ravels in fabrics with the use of aneedle comprising a shank member containing a shoulder and terminatingin a hook portion and a sliding latch member having an inclined uppersurface co-acting with said shoulder in open and closed positions of thelatch with reference to said hook portion, by inserting said needlethrough a loop formed in the run or ravel, sliding the latch away fromthe hook to open position and continuing the movement of the needle onthrough the fabric until the loop has slid back from the hook portionand is positively retained upon the shank member by said shoulder, thenreversing the movement of the needle through the loop catching the nextforward thread in the hook and sliding the latch toward the hook toclosedposition, lifting the retained loop over said shoulder by theinclined upper surface of the latch and casting it ofi over the hookportion, the thread caught in the hook thereupon forming a new looptaking the place of the first described loop, then reinserting theneedle into the fabric as before and repeating the operation until therun or ravel has been repaired.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Trenton, New Jersey,this 14th day of May A. D. 1926.

HERMAN HAVESON.

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